The Couch of Dreams

Last week I accompanied a friend to pick up some auction winnings and fell in love with a little couch there.  I know I focus on Mid Century Modern, but I shop with an estate company that pulls from NYC metro and they offer many high end furnishings and décor that are not in my normal sourcing realm.  This said, if you are looking for anything more traditional or ornate, please know I may be able to help you out with this.  So back to the couch of dreams....what stole the show is that it's blush velvet upholstery was in relatively decent shape, only in need of a cleaning.  The cushion has a down insert in it!  So posh!  The style is classic Chippendale but features a very elaborately carved eagle with his talon in his mouth at each arm and of course, the paw feet.  I have found no other couches like this online and it is most definitely the best of it's kind.  They told me it was from the 1920's but I will be picking it up tomorrow so cannot wait to see if there are any more clues.  If you follow my facebook, you may have seen when I posted the picture last Friday with a 'does anyone love this as much as me???' post?  Well, in fact someone does and reached out.  At this point, she is first in line to claim this beauty.  In case she turns it down, it will get listed in my markets.  I will be picking it up tomorrow along with some auction winnings I picked up.  If you want me to have a look at anything while I am on the road, shoot me a message!  I would be more than happy to shoot you pics of items that are for sale and keep an eye open at auction.  The preview for the next week's auction is usually available which is always good to get a look at.  The smalls I am bringing home will probably get listed over the weekend.

Amazing 1920s Camelback Chippendale style couch.  Beautifully carved arms and legs featuring eagles.  This color is so hot right now in decorating trends.  Paired with navy or neutrals, it is sure to look fabulous in an eclectic or tr…

Amazing 1920s Camelback Chippendale style couch.  Beautifully carved arms and legs featuring eagles.  This color is so hot right now in decorating trends.  Paired with navy or neutrals, it is sure to look fabulous in an eclectic or traditional space! I am hoping to reveal more clues as to the dating of this piece when I get it home. This is new territory for me so I have a lot to learn and look forward to delving into another era and style!

The eagle is so dreamy! Rolled arms are a common element to a Chippendale style couch.  The elaborate carvings in the arms do not seem to be common, according to my searches! Most later reproductions (the original English Chippendales date to t…

The eagle is so dreamy! Rolled arms are a common element to a Chippendale style couch.  The elaborate carvings in the arms do not seem to be common, according to my searches! Most later reproductions (the original English Chippendales date to the 1700s) seem to lack the arm carved details to this extent.  

This foot is known as a lion's paw foot. Another popular foot style on Chippendale furniture is the Ball and Claw, which is literally an eagle claw holding a ball.   A note on the shell referring to early 1900s Chippendale reproductio…

This foot is known as a lion's paw foot. Another popular foot style on Chippendale furniture is the Ball and Claw, which is literally an eagle claw holding a ball.   A note on the shell referring to early 1900s Chippendale reproductions:  Shell motifs carrying over from the Queen Anne period may be present, but are not as prevalent in this style as they were earlier in the 1700s.

So couches may be the thing for me!  The orange couch just sold.  So I will be couchless if the pink beauty gets claimed right away.  One thing I do still have is the beautifully restored day bed.  I would love to find this thing a home.  It is amazing.  I do realize it is more of a specialty piece which makes it a little harder to place.  My home would not be able to accommodate it until I kick a kid out.  :)  If you have any interest in it let me know.  All brand new cushions with just the right detailing.  Super neutral navy fabric from Joybird's pet and kid friendly line.  Make great seating and can accommodate overnight guests.  I would love to see it go to new parents as it would be a great addition to a nursery where you can catch some Zs and lounge comfortably with a baby.  Wish I had something as nice when my kids were babies.....I slept on the floor more than once!  ;)  Of course, great for a den, spare room and more.  All the details have been taken care of!  Delivery in my region no extra charge.  Get an instant shipping quote on my chairish.com listing. 

For my birthday, I found a great little Eames fiberglass side chair featuring an H base.  It was painted so I spent a lot of time stripping it down.  It is so cute and dated 1959.  I believe it to be an early Zenith production and the black finish on the base is original.  Super cute and worth the work to add it to my collection!  Here is a look at the project.  Stripping it took some physical work, but the product did not ruin the original shine at all!  I even got the labels free of paint!  I worked quickly in sections and was careful not to let the stripper sit too long as there were disclaimers on the product not to use on fiberglass.  It had no ill effect! 

There were 4 layers of paint on this chair!  It took some elbow grease and was not the most pleasant job.  I have a full day into it.

There were 4 layers of paint on this chair!  It took some elbow grease and was not the most pleasant job.  I have a full day into it.

NEW ENGLAND SHOPPERS!  I have a delivery scheduled in April to Rye, NH.  I will be staying in Nashua for 2 days and then making a stop in Rhode Island on the way back.  If you are looking at something larger and I can fit it in the car with the set I am delivering, I would gladly bring along for you to pick up or I can meet you.  I am tag teaming the trip with a friend.  Please reach out!  I can hold your item with a deposit until the delivery.  This is a rare opportunity to save some shipping! 

ETSY SHOP IS 10% OFF until the end of the month.  MOST ITEMS included but there are a few I left off.  Please stop by and grab some awesome items while they are on sale!  Leaving you with a few new items to check out!  Have a great weekend!  xo Malissa

JUST LISTED: beautiful 21" diameter faceted mirror.  Great for a hall, foyer or smaller wall.  Mirrored glass is mounted on a heavy wood piece and features black painted wood with gold painting trim. 

JUST LISTED: beautiful 21" diameter faceted mirror.  Great for a hall, foyer or smaller wall.  Mirrored glass is mounted on a heavy wood piece and features black painted wood with gold painting trim. 

Picking these auction winnings up Friday as well!  Not sure which items I will be keeping but will be evaluating this weekend and getting them listed.  I love having access to some very eclectic pieces and I welcome you to request weird st…

Picking these auction winnings up Friday as well!  Not sure which items I will be keeping but will be evaluating this weekend and getting them listed.  I love having access to some very eclectic pieces and I welcome you to request weird stuff!  The fun of shopping out of my area is finding higher end pieces!  Reach out if you see something you love as I will let you have first shot! 

Eames love!

S IN CIRCLE SUMMIT PLASTICS MARKED SHELL WITH BLACK VINYL UPHOLSTERY

S IN CIRCLE SUMMIT PLASTICS MARKED SHELL WITH BLACK VINYL UPHOLSTERY

My base and supplies from Modern Conscience have arrived.  I am not sure if they make to order or not but this order took quite a while to reach me.  I do select the cheapest, slowest shipping option though!

Once again I am thrilled and this shell is shaping up to exceed my expectations!  She really is a beauty!  I did not think the vinyl upholstery was attractive but with the base added, it is glorious!  

I have work ahead of me.  First I will be removing all the old epoxy and the one remaining original shock mount.  Here is an interesting tidbit.  I ordered the 60s and later version (the threads changed) hoping they would match and I would just add 3 new ones.  Everything I read about Summit produced shells dated them mid 60s and later. I found a thread on Design Addict the other day which challenged this and said Summit came into the picture earlier, like late 50s.  The first thing I did was try the new screws and sadly, mine are the earlier thread style.  No worries I will swap it out.  So now I am suspecting this to be a late 50s/early 60s shell.  I also read that the best fiberglass texture was in the earlier shells which would make sense as this one has beautiful Snowy white flecks throughout the black and it is really stunning.  I am very pleased with the chrome base and natural birch runners I selected.  As hoped, it offsets the black on black nicely.  I will be working on this one and hope to have it ready in the next week or so.  

Both of my Eames rockers are beauties and iconic pieces of MCM design history.  Preserved for the next generation, they are truly a delight.  My source has no more rogue arm chair shells so unless I find them elsewhere, I do not expect to have any more in my future.  I have one side chair left in tan with a stackable base in SCHOLASTIC MOUNT that could be changed out to a dowel base easily or new shock mounts installed to make it a NARROW MOUNT which would allow any of the reproduction bases to work.  I might just get that listed in case anyone wants to enjoy it.  Here is a preview with the seat just sitting on top.

Gorgeous black fiberglass features lots of snowy white fiberglass flecks

Gorgeous black fiberglass features lots of snowy white fiberglass flecks

The reproduction base from Modern Conscience was made to exact specifications as the originals.  They are top quality and feature tung oiled runners.  They are recommended for parts and restorations by Herman Miller for vintage pieces.  I …

The reproduction base from Modern Conscience was made to exact specifications as the originals.  They are top quality and feature tung oiled runners.  They are recommended for parts and restorations by Herman Miller for vintage pieces.  I am thrilled with their quality!

We wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!  Please review my holiday updates in the previous blog post.   

XO Malissa